Ziza’s Lace Collection: Sleycrafts Fashion Ltd Unveils First Collection of the Year

By Vanessa Obioha

Mercy Otisi, the creative director of SleyCrafts Fashion Ltd, has unveiled her latest collection for the year.

The designer said she recorded her new collection on March 4, 2023.

“Ziza’s lace is a reinterpretation of the classic Ankara-and-lace combination, elevating these familiar fabrics into contemporary ensembles that celebrate both structure and tradition,” she expressed in a press statement.

This collection’s foundation lies in the fusion of Ankara’s vibrant prints with the delicate intricacy of lace. One of its notable looks is the mini dress with a high neckline.

The bodice features circular lace cutouts overlaying the Ankara garment, creating dimensionality through layered patterns and textures.

Otisi’s construction ethos leans toward precise seam alignment and intentional form sculpting.

By carefully positioning the waistline and balancing bust-to-hip transitions, she achieves proportional harmony.

The mermaid-shaped gown exemplifies this with a corseted bustier and contoured boning, reinforcing Otisi’s technical approach to garment construction.

In this piece, the lace-overlay bodice softens the rigid elegance of the leaf-patterned Ankara skirt, which flares with controlled volume.

The skirt’s expansion is well-calculated, avoiding excessive restriction at the knee while maintaining a refined silhouette.

The lace appliqué work would achieve a more polished finish with discreet seam techniques such as French seams or bound edges.

While the lace panels are visually compelling, an understructure lining would prevent excess stretch and distortion over time.

The blend of lace and Ankara demands precision in stitching to avoid bulkiness or puckering at transition points.

Although the mini dress’s bodice integrates these materials adeptly, the transition between the lace sleeve and Ankara paneling could have been refined further to eliminate visible seam tension.

For Otisi’s portfolio, this collection showcases her skill in textile manipulation and structural garment design. It appeals to women who appreciate cultural fashion with a contemporary twist, those drawn to bold structure and intricate fabric interplay rather than just print-heavy Ankara designs.

With refined finishing techniques, this collection could elevate Otisi’s status as a master of fabric integration, proving her ability to merge heritage and innovation seamlessly.